PROVIDENCE, RI (August 14, 2005) The 2005
Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF)
announced the winners in this year’s film competition
at its annual closing-day Awards Brunch held this morning
at Fire & Ice Restaurant in Providence.

This year, RIIFF received 1,507 entries in competition
and 61 titles out of competition. 272 titles were chosen
as finalists and screened at this year's RIIFF at locations
throughout the state of Rhode Island. Films were entered
from 32 states and 62 countries. Of those films selected
for exhibition, 48 were World Premieres.

123 filmmakers, producers, distributors, cast and crew
registered with and attended the festival. Attendance
levels were above 2004 records with seven sold-out screenings
throughout the week. More than 1,900 people attended
the three screenings for the eagerly anticipated documentary
about former Providence Mayor and perennially controversial
figure, Vincent A. “Buddy” Cianci, directed
by Providence filmmaker, Cherry Arnold.

“It was an exceptional year,” said Michael
Drywa, RIIFF’s Board President. “RIIFF again
finished strongly in the black financially and kudos
go to the loyal staff of committed volunteers who worked
for the past year to make the Festival such a well-organized
success. Once again, RIIFF is distinguished by the superb
quality of its films, enthusiastic audiences and the
support of sponsors like the City of Providence’s
Office of Arts, Culture and Tourism, The Providence
Tourism Council, the Rhode Island State Council on the
Arts, Sony, Kodak, NBC 10, Clear Channel Communications,
Motif Magazine, The Providence Phoenix, Rule Broadcasting
Systems, Delta Airlines, Amtrak, the Federal Hill Gazette,
Jenn Lee Design and the Federal Hill Merchant’s
Association.

The
RIIFF Awards were presented by RIIFF Executive Director
George T. Marshall and Will Lyman, the New England-based
actor/director recognized nationally as the voice of
“Nova.” Presenters included Al Gomes of
Big Noise, Ltd., Joce Donaghue, from the Courthouse
Center for the Arts, and past documentary award winner,
Guy Perrotta (“Mystic Voices”). Kerri Coletta,
RIIFF Awards Coordinator was on hand to facilitate the
event.

RIIFF Awards carry significance since the Festival is
an official Academy Award qualifier for the short film
category. Of over 1,950 festivals worldwide, only 47
share this distinction.

Previously announced awards:

As in years past, this year’s Festival continued
to be a Mecca for filmmakers. Guests included award
recipients Danny Trejo (“Once Upon A Time in Mexico,”
“Spy Kids,” “Con Air,” “Heat”)
and Michael Showalter (star, writer and producer of
the cult favorite “Wet Hot American Summer”
and actor-writer-director of “The Baxter”).
Other guests included actor Stephen Collins (“Seventh
Heaven”) who presented “Next of Kin,”
the world premiere of his first directorial effort;
actor and former Trinity Rep Artistic Director Richard
Jenkins (“Six Feet Under”), the country
singer Billy Gilman (who debuted his new musical short,
“Hey Little Suzie”), actor/writer Ernest
Thompson (“On Golden Pond”) and John Fiore
and other cast members of “The Sopranos”
who starred in “Johnny Slade’s Greatest
Hits,” another Festival World Premiere. They joined
the company of such past RIIFF guests as Julie Andrews,
Patricia Neal, Steve Buscemi, Seymour Cassel, Bobby
and Peter Farrelly, Andrew McCarthy, Jon Cryer, Ben
Stiller, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara.

The next Rhode Island International Film Festival will
take place August 8-13, 2006 in locations throughout
Providence and the state of Rhode Island. RIIFF is a
juried competition and showcase for independent filmmakers
from all over the world.